STAT TO NOTE

35.8 – The percent of Blash’s plate appearances that have resulted in a strikeout in parts of two seasons with the Padres. Last year’s 33.8 percent rate was down from 40.5 in 2016.

TRENDING

Idle – Blash entered the organization before the 2016 season as a Rule 5 pick, acquired from Oakland as a player to be named later in the Yonder Alonso-Drew Pomeranz trade. He’d mashed 32 homers in 116 minor league games in his last year in the Mariners system (before Oakland selected him for San Diego in the Rule 5 draft), but managing just 84 plate appearances did little to help him find a rhythm his first year in the majors. As such, Blash was DFA’d by the Padres for a second time inside a year last January only to have a .617 slugging percentage at Triple-A El Paso – the second-highest mark for any level in his minor league career – buy more big league opportunities in 2017. His offensive numbers were largely better across the board in Year 2, but the 6-foot-5 slugger’s power numbers weren’t nearly enough to make up for the all the swing-and-miss in his game.

2018 OUTLOOK

Blash’s power potential remains intriguing but the fact remains that he’s a .200/.323/336 hitter through his first 279 plate appearances in the majors. The Padres have more invested in rounding out RF Hunter Renfroe’s warts and the opportunity to stand out in crowded corner outfield picture could run dry soon. Jose Pirela is the front runner for at-bats in left field, Travis Jankowski’s speed figures to factor in the equation somewhere, a healthy Alex Dickerson is expected to return to the competition this spring and Franchy Cordero will be knocking on the door this camp. Where does that leave Blash, the oldest of the bunch? Likely with his back against the wall this spring.

Gregory Bull / AP

Padres right fielder Jabari Blash makes the catch at the wall for the out on St. Louis Cardinals' Stephen Piscotty during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, in San Diego.

Padres right fielder Jabari Blash makes the catch at the wall for the out on St. Louis Cardinals' Stephen Piscotty during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, in San Diego. (Gregory Bull / AP)